Memorial

More information

Elmo W. Reese attended high school for four years and worked as a semiskilled tool sharpeners or dresser.
He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Lafayette, Indiana on 24 August 1942. He was later transferred to the infantry.

He was awarded the Silver Star Medal Posthumously. The citation cited: On 12 December 1944, in the town of Mariaweiler, Germany, Pfc Reese, a BAR man, voluntarily followed a friendly tank to the outskirts of the town in order to place heavy fire on enemy personnel which were holding up the advance of the company and to prevent the enemy from firing at the remainder of the platoon who were advancing across open ground. In order to do this, Pfc Reese was required to place himself in a position for firing which exposed him to direct observation by the enemy. Nevertheless, with great courage, Pfc Reese selected his position and immediately opened fire upon the Germans, diverting their fire upon himself and accounting for a number of casualties among the enemy. This heroic ruse was so successful that the remainder of Pfc Reese's platoon was able to cross through open terrain without the loss of a single man and thereby reached a position for a speedy taking of its objective. Pfc Reese, upon seeing that his voluntary mission had been accomplished, joined his platoon and moving with the most forward elements accompanied his comrades in a direct assault upon the enemy positions, again acquitting himself with extraordinary bravery as the enemy entrenchments were stormed with rifle fire, grenade and bayonet.